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Twisted Macaroni and Cheese

This made-from-scratch Twisted Macaroni and Cheese is ooey gooey deliciousness ideal for any occasion. It’s smothered with a homemade cheese sauce, that features a blend of three varieties of cheese, for optimum cheesy flavor.

Twisted Macaroni and Cheese

Easy Twisted Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

What is it about mac and cheese? It’s one of those cheesy side dishes that kids of all ages love. There are many variations, and I reach for a different one each time I make macaroni and cheese for my family. I love making classic dishes with a small twist, pardon the pun, and this twisted mac and cheese is one such example. How to make homemade Twisted Macaroni and Cheese. (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

  • Prepare Skillet – Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush a 12 inch cast iron skillet with 1/2 Tbsp softened butter, reserving remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp for top.
  • Macaroni – Cook macaroni in salted water per the package instructions until al dente. Drain well, then add to a large mixing bowl.
  • Sauce – In a 4 quart heavy bottomed saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add flour, mixing until flour is absorbed. Cook for 1 minute, while stirring.
  • Mix-ins – To the saucepan add, Dijon, salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg and a dash or two, of hot sauce. Mix well. Gradually whisk in milk.
  • Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Immediately turn the heat to low. Simmer gently bubbling for 5 minutes. Stir periodically to prevent sticking.
  • Combine Cheese – Toss together all three varieties of shredded cheese. Add 4 cups to sauce. Mix until completely melted, remove from heat.
  • Add Cheese to Macaroni – Pour cheese sauce over cooked pasta in mixing bowl, mix until evenly coated.
  • Assemble – Pour half of the macaroni into the skillet. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded cheese blend. Pour remaining macaroni evenly on top.
  • Sprinkle macaroni with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese. Dot the top with reserved butter.
  • Bake – Bake per the recipe until bubbly and golden.
Twisted Macaroni and Cheese

How to Make the Best Twisted Macaroni and Cheese

  • Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Twisted Macaroni and Cheese: Twisted macaroni or cavatappi pasta, salted butter, all purpose flour, whole milk, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, ground nutmeg, hot sauce, shredded colby-jack cheese, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, shredded fontina or gruyere cheese.
  • Kitchen tools you’ll need: Large 12 inch skillet or 13×9 inch baking dish, measuring cups and spoons, pasta pot, cheese grater, whisk and large spoon.
  • One of the most important things to remember when cooking macaroni is to shoot it to be slightly underdone or for al dente. If you overcook the twisted macaroni initially, it could become too mushy when baking.
  • When making the homemade cheese sauce, cook the white sauce until it’s thickened to the point of a thin pudding. When adding the shredded cheese, it will thicken further.
  • You can use twisted macaroni or cavatappi pasta for this dish. Preferably with ridges.
  • As with any macaroni and cheese you can adapt using any variety of cheese that you enjoy. This version works particularly well with the blend called for of cheddar, colby jack and creamy fontina cheese.
  • If you like, you may top it with 1 cup seasoned, buttered bread crumbs prior to baking.
  • This macaroni and cheese can be baked in any similar size oven safe skillet or 13×9 inch baking dish.
  • Allow a few minutes of stand time at the end of baking, to give the sauce time to thicken to perfection, before serving.
  • Twisted Macaroni and Cheese can be an entrée, or the complementary side to chicken, pork or grilled steak. In short, there’s simply no wrong time to serve it. Ever.
  • Store leftover macaroni and cheese chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat in single servings in the microwave.
Twisted Macaroni and Cheese

More Macaroni and Cheese Recipes to Make

Twisted Macaroni and Cheese

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

Twisted Macaroni and Cheese

Prep Time25 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Stand time10 minutes
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American, Southern
Keyword: macaroni-and-cheese-recipes, twisted-mac-and-cheese, twisted-macaroni-and-cheese
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 536kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 16 oz box twisted macaroni or cavatappi pasta
  • 1/2 cup salted butter, plus 2 Tbsp divided
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 5 cups whole milk
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper adjust to taste
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/16 tsp ground nutmeg (pinch)
  • few dashes hot sauce optional
  • 2 cups shredded colby-jack cheese
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups shredded fontina or gruyere cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush a 12 inch cast iron skillet with 1/2 Tbsp softened butter, reserving remaining 1 1/2 Tbsp for top. Set aside. (Alternately, bake in any similar size oven safe skillet or 13 x 9 inch baking dish)
  • Cook macaroni in salted water per the package instructions until al dente. Drain well, then add to a large mixing bowl.
  • Meanwhile, in a 4 quart heavy bottomed saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium heat. Add flour, mixing until flour is absorbed. Cook for 1 minute, while stirring.
  • To the saucepan add, Dijon, salt, pepper, paprika, nutmeg and a dash or two, of hot sauce. Mix well. Gradually whisk in milk.
  • Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Immediately turn the heat to low. Simmer gently bubbling for 5 minutes. Stir periodically to prevent sticking.
  • Toss together all three varieties of shredded cheese. Add 4 cups to sauce. Mix until completely melted, remove from heat.
  • Pour cheese sauce over cooked pasta in mixing bowl, mix until evenly coated.
  • Pour half macaroni into buttered cast iron skillet. Sprinkle with 1 cup shredded cheese blend. Pour remaining macaroni evenly on top.
  • Sprinkle macaroni with remaining 1 cup shredded cheese. Dot the top with reserved 1 1/2 Tbsp butter.
  • Bake for 35-40 minutes until bubbly and golden.
  • Let stand on counter for 10 minutes, then serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 536kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 634mg | Potassium: 219mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1059IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 628mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @melissassk or tag #melissassk!

12 Comments

    1. I haven’t tested it specifically for this recipe but I think you could. My only concern would be the sauce breaking down since it’s not baked. That said, if you cool it completely before freezing, it will likely do fine. If you try it, let us know how it goes.

    1. Hi Stan, I freeze this all the time and it reheats beautifully. Thaw in the fridge then, reheat in a 325°F oven covered loosely with foil, until heated through.

  1. 5 stars
    Does the idea of a BACON mac and cheese intrigue you? Just cook some bacon before starting the bechamel and use the bacon drippings as the fat. It spreads the taste of the “divine swine” as some call it through the entire casserole, and it doesn’t matter if you get an actual piece of crumbled bacon or not! The cooked bacon can be “cook’s treat” or if you’re feeling generous, you can crumble it after it’s cooked and stir it into the sauce along with the cheees.

    1. 5 stars
      LISA: I love that idea of adding bacon. I would also like to use Melissa’s recipe and add cooked lobster meat. I had that one time at a restaurant and it was DIVINE, as well. Thanks, too, Melissa for a wonderful recipe.

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